Reaction Paper Three

Alonso Lopez

Professor Villa

27 October 2015

Making the Mediterranean—Reaction Paper #3

            This week we assessed the role of city-states and territorial states in creating a communication network through the Mediterranean, using the Mediterranean as a contact zone for economic and social exchange. In class we discussed the role of Genoa, Venice and Constantinople/Istanbul in establishing this contact zone through trade routes and trading colonies. For example, “Genoa’s first empire was essentially composed of trading colonies. She had sent settlers beyond Constantinople, to the edge of the Byzantine empire, to Kaffa, Tana, Soldaia, and Trebizond…Tabarka, on the North African coast…was to be another [trading colony], draining away to Genoa the fabulous rewards of coral fishing…Ten, twenty, or thirty of these colonies were scattered all around the Mediterranean” (Braudel 1996: 249). Bringing the Ottoman Empire into context, Kate Fleet focuses on the trading partnership between the Genoese and the Turks, demonstrating how this interaction contributed to the economic development of the early Ottoman state and its territorial expansion (2006). As discussed, in class, the 15^th century marks a point in time in which city-states weakened due to lack of manpower and financial support to afford a strong army, food for its people, etc. As we see the fall of Constantinople in 1453 with the rise of the Ottoman territorial expansion, the 15^th century also marks a point in which territorial states rise in power.

            With territorial expansion as one factor of Ottoman interaction within the Mediterranean, we see how Venice, Genoa, and Istanbul become the greatest cities of the Mediterranean during the 14^th to 15^th centuries. Another theme for this week’s material was the political system of alliances and rivalries that arose from this network: the Mediterranean was the sum of its routes and often a tale of triumph of one route or port city over another (Wright 1999). Venice, however, proved to be the undisputed center of the Mediterranean world during the 14^th and 15^th centuries through its money, bills of exchange, fabrics, food, spices, etc (Lecture week 3, day 2). With the Genoese as one of its rivals, Venice had initially only taken part of the crusades to prevent all the spoils going to them (Carboni 2007: 43). Turning back to the aspect of territorial expansion as a key factor in Ottoman-Venetian interaction, “The two empires shared a long frontier because the Republic of Venice had built its maritime state upon all its Mediterranean possessions conquered from the Byzantines—which thenceforth bordered, given Ottoman expansion, Turkish lands subject to the sultan” (Carboni 2007: 43-44). However, with such interaction and ultimately, cultural exchange, through trade, there also came disputes: “the Turks obstinately nibbled away at Venetian islands and shores; Venice was ultimately embroiled in six naval and land wars, with varying outcomes that usually resulted in further losses for Venetian territory” (Carboni 2007: 44). Despite such turmoil, one must not neglect the strong Venetian presence that existed in the Islamic world, as well as the strong Ottoman presence within Venice, which can still be seen today through art and architecture.

            I would like to conclude with personal observations that I have collected during my stay in Florence as well as my visit to Venice two weekends ago. Upon my arrival to Florence, I was destined to first make my way to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, what is in my opinion, its most known and beautiful landmark. I could not get over its immense dome that in turn dominates its skyline, something that I characterize as an essential element to religious Christian structures. On the other hand, when I finally reached the Basilica di San Marco in Venice, I did not get the same Christian religious feeling from its architecture for it did not have one dominating dome with a cross on top but, instead, several fairly sized domes compiling its skyline, something that I characterize as an essential Islamic characteristic. It was not until I stepped inside the Basilica that I finally reacted with a Christian feeling for the environment. This is a clear symbol of the Ottoman-Venetian interaction and cultural exchange that took place in the 14^th-16^th centuries through elements like renegades and more.